TROTTING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14835, 28 November 1913, Page 5

TROTTING IN NEW ZEALAND.

A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS. Mr James Brennan, foundation president of the West Australian Trotting Association, left for Sydney yesterday by the Maunganui on his way home to Perth, after -a stay of three or four weeks in the South Island, during which time he has taken every available opportunity of making himself familiar with the conditions under which trotting is carried on in the Dominion. Mr Brennan said to a reporter that he felt he could not leave Christchurch without expressing his appreciation of the reception accorded to him, not only by the executive of the New Zealand Trotting Association, bnt also by the officials of the various trotting clubs in the city. He had been treated on all hands with the greatest kindness, and in consequence his stay had been made a most enjoyable one. He had found the owners all anxious to show kindness to a stranger; they had afforded him all TKJSsible information, and he had been enabled to see practically, every stable of importance in and around

Christchurcb., and all the best horses, including the most recent importationsHe could not help being impressed with the jHjrsonnel of the executive of the Association, and also of the Metropolitan Trotting Club. It was chiefly to see that club's New Zealand Cup Meeting that he had made tho trip, and he had come more closely in, touch with the members of that body." The fact that the club was able to command the services of disinterested men, of good standing in the community, had a very great deal to do with securing public confidence, without which no sport could, have a secure foundation. The racing at Addington during the three days of the Metropolitan Club's Meeting impressed Mr Brennan as remarkably fine; indeed, he said that he had never been to a meeting at which ho had seen cleaner racing. No doubt the policy of giving good sjakes had proved successful in attracting good horses, and the very high standard reached was shown by the fact that whereas the best class that had ever been fixed for the biggest race in Australia was for horses capable of doing 2.32 or better to tho mile, here the New Zealand Cup, a two-mile race, was for a 4.38 class, or 2.19 to the mile.

"One tiling that I could not help noticing," said Mr Brennan, "was that here tho social side of tho sport has been developed so successfully. You have reached a stage that we are trying very hard to approach in "West Australia, but we have to struggle against prejudices which are very difficult to overcome. Ono great thing in favour of trotting in New Zealand is the, fact that all your clubs are amateur bodies. Owners, breeders, trainers, and also the general public should be very thankful that there is no proprietary element about any of the clubs. No sport should bo under the control of one man."

Mr Brennan also paid a visit To Dunodin, and there met somo of the officials of tho Forbury Park Club. Ho was very favourably impressed with tho track there, and he expected to find tho sport make great progress in the south in the near future. "Finally," said Mr Brennan, "I must again exoress my appreciation of tho kindness which has been extended to mc. This I have taken as p great compliment to tho executive of my own Association.".